Charlotte A. Werner (nee Krueger) age 86, of Appleton, passed away peacefully at her home, with her family at her side, Saturday, August 4, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. She joins her loving husband, Joseph, in Heaven.
Charlotte was born on January 13, 1926 in the Town of Hortonia, at the Steffen Family farm. Her birth was attended by midwife Lyda Oak.
She married Joseph J. Werner on July 2, 1949 in Hortonville, WI. He preceded her in death on March 26, 2006, after 56 years of marriage.
Charlotte was the last surviving child of Charles and Ella (Steffen) Krueger.
Charlotte received a 2 year Teaching Diploma from Outagamie Rural Normal School in 1945. She taught at one-room rural Elm Grove Center School; Medina Graded School and Dale Graded School during 1944 to 1950. Beginning in 1951 she remained at home to devote herself to raising her family, but returned to work as a para-professional in Kindergarten at Little Chute Public School in 1967. She continued working and returned to school at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education on August 3, 1973. Charlotte was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education Beta Theta Chapter at UW-Oshkosh. She continued her teaching career at Little Chute Public School, teaching Kindergarten until she retired in 1988. She was beloved by her students and touched their lives with her constant cheerful and caring manner.
On April 22, 1988 Charlotte was recognized by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for 26 years of dedicated service. She joined the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association (WREA) and the Outagamie County Retired Educators Association (OCREA) in November 1989. Charlotte coordinated the reservations for the OCREA monthly teachers luncheon with the help of her husband, Joseph, from 1991 to 2001. In 2011, Charlotte was nominated to the WREA High Honor Roll for making a difference in so many of her students lives.
Charlotte enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk and Wheel of Fortune on television and listening to her police scanner. Charlotte liked dancing at weddings and at Rainbow Gardens. She was a charter member of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish.
Charlotte is survived, and will be sadly missed, by her four loving children: Charlene (Michael) Bernaski, Wauwatosa, WI; Charles (Susan) Werner, Germantown, WI; Jerome Werner, Menomonee Falls, WI; James Werner, Appleton, WI; precious granddaughters, Sara Bernaski, Wauwatosa, WI and Amanda and Abigail Werner, Germantown, WI; special family friend, Mark Spies and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters and brothers-in-law: Dorothy (Willard) Baehman and Helen Mae (Robert) Draheim and brothers and sisters-in-law: Glen (Pearl) Krueger and Frederick (Alice) Krueger.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1810 N. McDonald Street, with Reverend Gerald Falk officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00AM until the time of service at the church. Interment will be in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Hortonville.
Charlottes family would like to extend their special thanks for the warmth and kindness of: Father Falk, Dr. Ebben, Dr. Ray, Dr. Swanson and their staff for the loving care they provided to Charlotte. Also, special thanks to the care providers of ThedaCare at Home Hospice for their care, compassion and concern shown to Charlotte and her family.
Memorials to the charities of your choice would be appreciated by the family.
Charlotte was a loving and generous wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family.
"Mom, God decided your time had come, and Gods will was meant to be, so he put His arm around you, and whispered come with Me. A golden heart stopped beating, loving hands came to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. A million times weve cried, and if love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a special place, no one else will ever fill. It broke our hearts to lose you Mom, but you didnt go alone. Part of us went with you that day, when God took you home." With Love, Your Children
"Grandma, we love you and we will miss you!" Your Granddaughters
